July 23 2014

Page 1

WEDNESDAY JULY 23, 2014 VOLUME 104 ISSUE 5

D efending the First Amendment since 1911

www.UniversityStar.com

VIDEO Habitat for Humanity: San Marcos’ president of the volunteer-run organization discusses its missions. Go to universitystar.com

CITY

SMCISD offers free summer meal program for students By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER

of 13 sites, Boone said. The feeding program reaches many children and distributes up to 100 meals a day, he said. In addition to the stationary feeding sites at local schools, the Purple Bus Mobile Meals reaches and distributes meals to children who do not live close to campuses. “We got an old bus, painted it purple, redid the windows, got air conditioning and put a radio in it,” Boone said. “If the kids can’t come to us then we’ll go to them.” Almost 74 percent of children in SMCISD receive free or reduced meals because the families are economically disadvantaged, Boone said. Boone said he encounters many people while visiting the sites and remembers a story of one moving encounter with a family. “While at the site, we met a woman who was there with her three kids,” Boone said. “This woman once told us, ‘We don’t have a car and times are tough. If you guys didn’t come out here with the bus, some days, I don’t know how we would feed these kids.’” Serving locations for breakfast and lunch include San Marcos High School, Bowie Elementary School, Crockett Elementary and Travis Elementary. Lunch is served at additional city locations including the San

San Marcos students who normally receive their primary meals at school during the year have the opportunity to receive free breakfast and lunch this summer with a feeding program put on by the school district. From June 9 to August 15, the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District’s Summer Feeding Program and the Purple Bus Mobile Meals will be serving free breakfast and lunch to San Marcos students 18 years old and younger Monday through Friday at locations throughout the community. “We’re feeding kids who might not eat at all,” said Mike Boone, associate director of SMCISD Child Nutrition Services. “Even though it’s summer time and just because they don’t have school to eat doesn’t mean they’re not hungry. This is the future of our country and children need food in their bellies to learn and to be healthy.” There is no application or requirement for children to be eligible to receive the free meals. Adults can purchase meal trays for themselves for $3. The program has been going on for about three years, and this summer the SMCISD feeding program is distributing food at a total See SUMMER MEALS, Page 4

UNIVERSITY

DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Company donates $1 million reactor to College of Science and Engineering By Naomi Lovato NEWS REPORTER

S

tate-of-the-art research equipment valued at over $1 million was donated to the College of Science and Engineering June 30 to further student and faculty research. The equipment is a reactor donated by Nitronex, LLC, a supplier of special power transistors for wireless communications applications, said Michael Blanda, assistant vice president of Research and Federal Relations. The reactor will be housed in the Roy F. Mitte Building,

home to the Department of Physics, the Ingram School of Engineering and the Department of Engineering Technology. Blanda said the reactor will lead to the production of advanced electronic components such as wireless transmitters/ receivers and LEDs, or light-emitting diodes. Nitronex produces a chemical compound called gallium nitride, which can be put on silicon wafers, Blanda said. Those wafers can be incorporated into power transistors and other types of applications for things like computers chips, he said. The company knew of Texas State’s overall research capabilities and specific

CONSTRUCTION

Construction causes shut down of North LBJ-Sessom Drive intersection By Kelsey Bradshaw NEWS EDITOR The intersection at North LBJ Drive and Sessom Drive will be closed until August 15 for reconstruction. A decision made by city councilmembers at their June 3 meeting changed the intersection reconstruction plan from a “4 Phase” to a “2 Phase” strategy to expedite completion. Shutting down the intersection completely is part of the “2 Phase” plan and has sped up the construction process, said Sean Condor, project manager. “So far, (with the two phase plan), we’re a little bit ahead of schedule,” Condor said. “We’re still sticking with the August 15 completion.” Drivers coming from Aquarena Springs on Sessom will be forced to take a right onto North LBJ Drive, Condor said. In order to get the construction done by August 15, the entire intersection had to be “torn up,” Condor said. The crosswalks at the intersection will incorporate a maroon stripe, which can be seen on the area that is already finished, Condor said. The intersection will be made of asphalt, since concrete takes a longer time to install, he said. Entrance into the university from the intersection will be closed off until the project is

completed, Condor said. Students taking the bus that traditionally goes through The Quad loop have been redirected to the Undergraduate Academic Center stop, said Steven Herrera, shuttle service manager. “All of the buses (from The Quad loop) were redistributed to the UAC bus stop,” Herrera said. The North LBJ route has been redesigned to bypass the segment that is still under construction, Herrera said. Although accommodating the quick changes being made by city has been a “bit of a challenge,” Herrera said the buses have been able to operate “very well” this summer. “We’re really excited and hopeful that the construction will be completed on the schedule that the city has committed to,” Herrera said. The intersection reconstruction is a part of larger $6.9 million project to make repairs on North LBJ Drive, which is expected to be completed next summer, Condor said. “Everything that needed repairs is getting repaired,” Condor said. Shared lanes for bikes, sidewalks on both sides of the street and water, sewer and storm drains will be added, Condor said. Surrounding business owners say they are being affected by the construction. Mochas and Javas, a coffee

capabilities in the area of microchip manufacture, which led it to donate the technology, Blanda said. Nitronex was also aware former employee Edwin Piner, associate professor of physics, had a personal interest in the research, so a partnership began, Blanda said. The reactor produces the microelectronic material that goes into a computer chip, Piner said. This makes a good tool for both research and prototype production. Piner is excited to be able to get back into the research he was involved in for 15 years before coming to Texas State.

See REACTOR, Page 4

UNIVERSITY

Interim dean named for College of Fine Arts and Communication By Nicole Barrios ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

DENISE CATHEY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

An interim dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication has been named as the national search is set to begin for a new, permanent dean. John Fleming, chair and professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, has been chosen to serve as interim dean. Provost Eugene Bourgeois said he selected Fleming after consulting with President Denise Trauth on the list of eligible candidates. Bourgeois also met with the college council composed of the associate deans, chairs and directors as well as outgoing dean, Timothy Mottet, he said. “To me, it’s an exciting opportunity to serve the college and the students and the faculty within the college,” Fleming said. “I’ve had offers to go elsewhere, but I really love Texas State and I love the

See FLEMING, Page 4 shop located on North LBJ Drive, experienced trouble when the construction was heavy on its side of the street. “We could have done better otherwise while the construction has been going on,” said Andy Trevino, Mochas and Javas manager. The construction has not had a “devastating” effect on the shop, but it did slow down business, Trevino said. A lot of Mochas and Javas customers are “extremely loyal” and oftentimes walked through a “construction warzone” to get their daily caffeine fix. In an attempt to help sales, Mochas and Javas has done some extra marketing and enhanced their catering business. By fo-

HILLSIDE RANCH APARTMENTS & COTTAGES

cusing on catering, customers don’t have to come to the shop, and the product can be brought to them, Trevino said. Even though the construction has affected the coffee shop, Trevino said there are “no hard feelings.” “The project is very necessary,” Trevino said. “It is going to add bike lanes on both sides, so it will really help out pedestrian and motor traffic.” Reconstructing the road will ultimately be “safer and more convenient” for students who drive, walk or ride bikes, Trevino said. “(The project) is just a part of growth,” Trevino said.

COURTESY OF JOHN FLEMING

1,2,3,4,5 Bedroom Homes Brand new Computer Lab Grand New Fitness Center 855.562.2008 www.hillsidetsu.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
July 23 2014 by The University Star - Issuu